Error in SQL Server CTE statement - sql

Question

I believe I'm writing this CTE wrong, I'm a major novice with this so explain as much as you can. Still getting the can not be bound error on almost everything
Error messages:
The multi part identifier could not be bound "PS_Margin.Emp or Vendor ID
The multi part identifier could not be bound "PS_Margin.Project Profit by Person %
Issues/ Goals:
Possible need to add aliases to column names with spaces and special characters although I don't know how to do this
WITH
Profit_Score_CTE ( [Emp or Vendor ID], [Project Profit by Person %] ) AS (
SELECT PS_Margin.[Emp or Vendor ID],
CASE
WHEN ps.[Project Profit by Person %] > .4 THEN 1
WHEN ps.[Project Profit by Person %] > .2 THEN 3
WHEN ps.[Project Profit by Person %] > .1 THEN 5
WHEN ps.[Project Profit by Person %] > .05 THEN 8
ELSE 13 END
AS [Profit Score]
FROM dbo.PS_Margin AS ps
)
SELECT emp.[Employee Name], emp.[USID], [Profit Score]*0.3 AS [Final Score]
FROM dbo.PS_Emp AS emp
left join Profit_Score_CTE
ON emp.USID = Profit_Score_CTE.[Emp or Vendor ID]

Answer 1

"Cannot be bound" usually refers to how you are ID'ing columns with a table alias. Try giving your table an alias and using that for the columns:
WITH
--Section 1: Profit Score
Profit_Score_CTE( [Emp or Vendor ID], [Project Profit by Person %] ) AS (
SELECT PS_Margin.[Emp or Vendor ID],
CASE
WHEN ps.[Project Profit by Person %] > .4 THEN 1
WHEN ps.[Project Profit by Person %] > .2 THEN 3
WHEN ps.[Project Profit by Person %] > .1 THEN 5
WHEN ps.[Project Profit by Person %] > .05 THEN 8
ELSE 13 END
AS [Profit Score]
FROM [dbo].[PS_Margin] ps
)

Answer 2

I'm guessing because you haven't provided enough information to reproduce the error. But I think the problem might be that you define the columns of your CTE here:
Profit_Score_CTE( [Emp or Vendor ID], [Project Profit by Person %] ) AS (
And yet you alias your second column with a different name here:
AS [Profit Score]
You need to decide which column name you want your CTE to expose and use it consistently.

Answer 3

I'll assume your CTE is correctly defined. Your cte is named "Profit_Score_CTE". Your actual select statement refers to objects dbo.PS_Emp and dbo.PS. I'll guess that you should replace dbo.PS with your CTE name. E.g.,
with Profit_Score_CTE as (select ...)
select emp.[Employee Name], ...
from dbo.PS_Emp as emp
left join Profit_Score_CTE
on emp.USID = Profit_Score_CTE.[Emp or Vendor ID]
order by ...
;
The alias PS is visible only inside the definition of the CTE. It cannot be used in the actual select statement that uses your CTE. Notice that I gave your table an alias and used it - a consistent coding style is something you should strive to achieve. Also notice the order by clause. Rows within a resultset have no defined order without one - and usually it is important. And PLEASE use white space to make your code readable and to avoid easy mistakes. You crammed everything together in the formula for computed column [Final Score].

Answer 4

Thanks all for your help!
My newbie ribbon was really showing with this one. The problem had nothing to do with SQL at all. I wasn't pointing to the correct database in sql server.
In the available databases drop down box on the top left hand screen of SQL Server you need to select the database you're working from. This will enable the script to find your database, and begin to solve alot of the errors.